Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Andreas Reuter

On April 15, 2016, Andreas Reuter stepped down as managing director of HITS. 18 years before, the computer scientist had given up his post as prorector of Stuttgart University to establish a private English-speaking university, at the same time accepting Klaus Tschira’s offer to mastermind the development of the EML European Media Laboratory GmbH as its scientific and managing director. In 2003 he went on to found EML Research gGmbH, a basic research institute from which HITS originated in 2010. Andreas Reuter’s extensive experience as a science manager has proven invaluable – particularly in the cooperation with KIT and Heidelberg University on various joint appointments and the decision by both universities to become shareholders of HITS in 2014.

When Klaus Tschira passed away in March 2015, Andreas Reuter remained as the sole managing director for another year. Despite retirement as managing director of HITS in 2016, Andreas Reuter continued to be active in other institutions founded by Klaus Tschira, such as the HITS Stiftung and the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation. He retired from these positions as of 15 May 2020.